No matter how perfect the factory car is, there is hardly at least one owner who would not like to make at least a small modification to the design or appearance. This is especially true for cheap domestic cars, in which almost every detail requires, if not alteration, then modification for normal operation. VAZ 2115 is also no exception. And although it has proven itself to be a fairly reliable car, few people use it without modifications and additional investment of money. Let’s figure it out together how to properly invest the minimum amount in Samara with maximum results.
How to invest money in a VAZ 2115 correctly
VAZ 2115 is an attempt to extend the assembly line life of the already classic ninety-ninth. Although everyone understands perfectly well that the design of the car began to become obsolete even during its assembly line life, attempts to bring the design to at least some acceptable technological minimum will always be made. And all this requires certain investments and each additional piece of hardware has its own price.
Therefore, we will figure out what is worth investing in first and what can wait. So, for example, external tuning, installation of plastic body kits, bumpers, spoilers and aerodynamic skirts do not make any sense until the chassis, body, engine and at least the interior are brought back to normal. And there is where to invest money.
Story
For some reason, the VAZ family of cars under the general name “Samara 2” received serial numbers contrary to accepted tradition. Of the entire line of VAZ 2113, 2114, 2115, the VAZ 2115 model was the first to appear.
This happened in 1997, which can be called the year of birth of the Samara 2 family. As already noted in the article about the VAZ 2113 car, this line of cars was the result of restyling of the Lada Samara series models that appeared back in the 80s. And if we draw analogies, then the VAZ 2115 is a logical continuation of the front-wheel drive VAZ 21099 sedan.
Initially, the designers of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant planned to carry out a complete modernization of the VAZ 21099, which was supposed to include not only innovations in design, but also a complete revision of the design of the main components and mechanisms of the car. But this idea had to be abandoned over time - “Samara 2” inherited almost all the main characteristics from the first series. On the one hand, this did not give much of an increase in performance. On the other hand, it made it possible to achieve maximum unification between VAZ models.
So it turns out that only the appearance has changed? Not certainly in that way. Some functional tuning was still made, but let's look at it a little later, first examining the changes to the exterior. Compared to the VAZ 21099, the new VAZ 2115 has become more streamlined. There is no trace left of the former angular shapes inherent in the Lada Samara family. True, the new car has lost to some extent its predatory appearance, which is very desirable for sports cars. However, the resulting streamlining bore fruit. In addition, the trunk of the car has become much more convenient. Its loading height began to be located at the level of the bumper. Anyone who has ever had to put heavy bags in the trunk of a VAZ 21099 knows what it sometimes costs.
Now about the internal changes. The VAZ 2115, as well as subsequently the entire Samara 2 family, received a new eight-valve injection engine with a volume of 1.5 liters and a power of 77.8 hp. Although this transition did not happen immediately. On car models that were produced between 1997 and 2000, the good old carburetor engine was still installed. However, the advantages of the injection system gradually pushed it out of the market. In 2008, engines began to be installed on the VAZ 2115, increasing their volume to 1.6 liters, which led to an increase in power to 80.9 hp.
Small additions were also made to the vehicle's electrical system. The VAZ 2115 began to be equipped with electric windows, an on-board control system, new fog lights and even heated seats (on luxury vehicles).
For some time, the VAZ 2115 coexisted with its ancestor, the VAZ 21099. However, in 2004, the ninety-ninth Lada was finally discontinued and the “tag” completely replaced it in Russian car dealerships. The VAZ 2115 is still for sale today. True, recently the model has undergone a number of minor changes, the purpose of which is to bring the car up to the style requirements of modern times.
Chassis and steering tuning
Let's start with the fact that, by modern standards, the car's chassis already needs certain improvements, especially since all the necessary components are available for this. We do not advocate installing expensive Bilstein shock absorbers on Samara, but some less expensive work can be done.
Installing power steering on a VAZ 2112 is a completely adequate step. And it will cost at most a couple of tens of thousands. Even cheaper is installing electric power steering from Priora. For this you will need:
- the electric booster itself;
- plan-washer adapter;
- additional cardan;
- steering wheel cover from the new 2112 models;
- installation wires with connectors.
An electric amplifier costs about 17 thousand in a store, but you will be confident that the car is controlled adequately, and less effort will be spent fighting the rack.
Installation of electric window lifts
The car in question was also produced with a mechanical window lift - a thing of the past that still haunts the domestic auto industry. In order to make it convenient for passengers and the driver himself, electric lifts should be installed.
You can carry out such an upgrade yourself. This is due to the fact that the lift is purchased disassembled. You can choose a design that was installed on a more expensive configuration of a particular model, which determines ease of installation.
Problems can only arise when connecting the mechanism to a power source, since for this you will have to create chips and lay out the wiring yourself.
Problems may also arise with the output of the glass control unit. As a rule, the buttons are located directly on the door and can be duplicated on another panel. Therefore, when purchasing a window lifter, you should also select handles with window lifter control buttons.
When tuning, it becomes possible to duplicate the control unit on other panels, which will increase the comfort of performing this function.
Refinement of the brake system
Another nice addition to the design of the old 2115 will be tuning the brakes. Namely, installing rear disc brakes. No one will argue that disc brakes are much more efficient than drum brakes. Even if the owner does not intend to conquer the Nuremburg Ring, but simply move comfortably around the city, then the maintenance and operation of disc brakes will be much more pleasant and the ride safer.
As a rule, the 2115 is equipped with front disc brakes, which can easily be found used. This will further reduce the cost of the design. The only thing you will need to buy or order additionally is the washer plate to which the brake caliper is attached. It costs about 400 rubles each. Installing disc brakes doesn't even take much time. You will only need to sweat with unscrewing the soured fasteners and introducing a hand brake into the structure. Although they also sell special kits for this, ready for installation.
Increasing comfort by changing seats
Another fairly popular way of tuning a car is installing new seats. At the VAZ factory, old seats were installed, which differ significantly from modern versions.
At the same time, over time they lost their appearance, elasticity and other qualities.
Modern chairs provide, first of all, various types of body support. An example is lateral support, lumbar or leg support. The availability of support is determined by the following factors:
- Comfort increases, which means driving over long distances does not cause many problems.
- Driving conditions are improved, especially when turning. A steep roll causes the body of the driver and passengers to shift. In order to fight the inertial force, the driver has to strain his back muscles and hold on to the steering wheel more tightly. This kind of problem can be solved thanks to lateral support.
- The appearance of these seats is very attractive. Note that initially lateral support appeared on sports cars, and only after that they began to be installed in ordinary cars.
Such tuning is quite simple to implement, but can be quite expensive. This is due to the fact that there are special seat kits on sale that fit the vehicle in question.
The installation process consists only of dismantling the old chairs and installing new ones. The choice is quite large; you can choose seats to match the design of the vehicle's interior.
Engine modification
It will not be possible to defeat the prehistoric engine with a little blood. This requires an integrated and thoughtful approach. It doesn’t matter at all whether the injector is installed on a tag, or there is an old carburetor there. The essence of the ancient engine does not change. Suffice it to say that after doing a whole series of rather complex work:
- installation of forged pistons, precise adjustment of their weight;
- installation of T-shaped valves;
- replacing the camshaft with a shaft with changed phases;
- installation of a split camshaft drive gear;
- boring and polishing of sleeves;
- installation of a tuned exhaust system;
- modification of the cylinder head - installation of wear-resistant valve bushings and oil nozzles.
This whole complex will take at least 50 thousand, and will give a maximum increase in power of 15-18 forces. Moreover, both fuel consumption and engine life will change. Therefore, it is worth considering whether it is necessary to pay that kind of money for 15 additional forces and repair the engine every 50 thousand km in the best case.
As for the external modification of the VAZ 2115 tuning with your own hands, a photo of which we presented on the page, it’s up to everyone to decide and consult first of all with a bank card.
Tuning headlights, interior modifications, additional work on the body - all this makes sense only when the 2115 steers and brakes normally. Tuning inexpensively and with pleasure, good luck to everyone!
Experts' opinion
Michael. I am engaged in the professional provision of services for upholstering the interior of a vehicle with new fabric. I would like to note right away that quite often I come across a situation where I have to redo it after trying to do the work myself. In this case, costs only increase, since the previously used material becomes unsuitable when attempting to complete the work independently.
Igor. I am involved in installing air conditioning systems on cars. An air conditioner is a complex and quite expensive piece of equipment that must be installed correctly for long-term operation. You can install it on a VAZ, but the work is quite difficult due to the lack of this option even on expensive trim levels. Therefore, the cost of the service is high.
Grigory. Do you want to increase your comfort in your car and travel long distances without feeling tired? Seats with lateral support are designed specifically to solve the problem at hand. You can buy them with delivery, installation will not cause much difficulty.
Denis. I can consider myself a VAZ fan, since in all my driving experience I have only driven cars from the domestic auto industry. After much thought, I chose 2115 tons for myself and did not regret it at all - after modifications, the car does not look like the money that was invested in it.
Headlight update
Compared to modern analogues, the headlights of the “fifteenth” are significantly outdated. Popular “angel eyes”, that is, LED bulbs, will help bring a new breath to optics. There are special kits available on the market that can be equipped with a VAZ car in any configuration without any problems. In particular, tuning headlights for the VAZ 2115 can be done using models in a monoblock body. Such systems include LED turn signals and the same rings, called “angel eyes.” Strip optics are used for passing and moving headlights. Installation is carried out on standard seats, and replacement windows and repair add-ons can be ordered separately.
Step-by-step instructions for interior modernization
- You should start small. So trimming the sun visors is the perfect place to start. To do this, you need to remove them, tear open the polyethylene, attach them to the inside of the selected material and mark the contours of the visor. At the same time, leaving a reserve of fabric, approximately 1-2 centimeters from each edge of the visor.
- Cut the resulting pattern and form a cover from it, and sew it with an internal seam.
- The finished cover should be pulled onto the visor using a metal ruler, filling its “insides” with foam rubber. After this, the remaining part of the cover should be sewn up.
- Similar manipulations should be carried out with the second visor.
Car door trim
The tuning of the interior has begun, the point of return has been passed. The second step to “updating” the car’s interior design will be the door trim. In most products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant company, factory frames are made of fiberboard boards and covered with fabric. To start covering the doors, the inserts must be removed, as well as the old fabric, and then repeat the same manipulations as with the sun visor, basting the pattern on the selected material. Adding complexity to this process is attaching the “updated” insert to the slab. To do this, you need to take a construction gun for driving staples with staples No. 8, which must be nailed so that the sheathing material is evenly distributed over the area of the fiberboard.
DIY upholstery
There is no need to reinvent the wheel or discover America here; you should act according to the “threaded” scheme:
- we remove the old roof and tear off the upholstery,
- apply it to new material,
- make a pattern with a gap,
- We lay foam insulation between the body and the fiberboard roof slab.
The upholstery is secured using liquid nails or assembly adhesive. Car seat reupholstery is carried out according to the same scheme, however, most drivers are not satisfied with the seats that VAZ provides in its factory configuration, so it is worth considering the option of replacing them with more comfortable ones.
Other nuances
The interior has been “brought to perfection”, all that remains is to replace the steering wheel, dashboard, car radio, and pedals. The modern spare parts market will provide a huge selection of all kinds of options for adding interesting and unusual details to the car that will fit perfectly into the overall concept of the interior of the new salon.
As they say: “the devil is in the details,” so don’t forget about even the most insignificant little things: rubber mats, gear knobs and controls, as well as car lighting, thanks to which you can create the right atmosphere or properly hide interior imperfections.
Practice shows that after tuning the interior, the VAZ 2114 turns into a truly comfortable, practical, beautiful and unique car, which has its own individuality and emphasizes the exceptional taste of its owner.
Body upgrade
Most motorists begin improving their pet by updating the body. The reason for this is not only the need to replace individual parts (most often thresholds), but also the desire to stand out on the road.
There are many options for changing the body; you can start by installing a spoiler. In addition to beauty, the element performs aerodynamic functions, improving vehicle handling at high speed.
Thresholds often become a headache for drivers. Due to their short service life, they often require replacement, so additional protection becomes necessary.
Installing non-standard parts will help solve this problem and add originality to the car. When choosing body kits for thresholds, it is important to take into account the strength of the material, since in the future the impact load will fall precisely on the threshold.
When changing the exterior of a vehicle, special attention should be paid to optics. High-quality original headlights and dimensions can completely change the appearance of the car. But you shouldn’t get carried away, wanting to distinguish yourself.
Driving safety should remain the main parameter when choosing headlights. When making and installing optics yourself, it is quite difficult to achieve a good result, so it is better to turn to specialists.
Body kits, graffiti and new optics are not the only tuning options for the fifteenth model. A striking example is the two-door version of the VAZ 2115 Coupe.
Start of work, materials
First of all, it is necessary to disassemble the interior, leaving bare metal. This may seem complicated, however, everything here is intuitive.
It’s also worth gathering the following tools:
- Good scissors (preferably tailor's)
- Stationery knife
- Sewing machine
- Sandpaper
- Finishing material
- Glue
- Set of needles and pins
Next, we decide on the material. As a rule, leatherette is used, but you should not skimp on it, since low-quality leatherette can bubble from glue, or simply tear when re-tightening. If finances allow, you can use genuine leather, suede or Alcantara. The last two require constant care and cleaning, since they become very greasy due to their fleecy structure. You also need to immediately choose a color. The bright, red color seems attractive to many, but it is worth remembering that at the same time it is also a great irritant, which means that the car will become unsuitable for long trips. Therefore, it is better to choose neutral tones.
You must also remember practicality. Light colors get very dirty, because this is a car in which people sit in shoes and outerwear, and this means a lot of dust and debris.
Reupholstering the interior is, first of all, gluing the material. Therefore, you also need to choose the right glue. Now the German KLEIBERIT and the Polish BOTERM GTA have proven themselves well on the market. They apply to all of the above materials.
Protection of the power unit from impacts
It should be borne in mind that engine tuning is not only about increasing its power. You can also install special protection for the cockpit, which very often suffers from impacts. The quality of domestic roads is quite low.
A large rock, hole or other impact damages the oil pan, and when oil leaks quickly, the pressure of the working fluid in the engine is reduced. The absence of an oil sensor means that engine shutdown often occurs after crankcase damage.
The problem can be solved by installing a steel plate in the form of a casing. The difficulty of such an installation lies only in creating support. The result will meet expectations. The steel sheet will absorb all major impacts, which will increase the reliability of the power unit. The work can be done independently, for which it is enough to have a standard set of tools with a metal drill and a lift. Carrying out work on the observation deck is quite difficult due to the inconvenience.
